Wengyuan County: A Photo Journal of History and Daily Life in Shaoguan

December 22, 2025

Wengyuan County: A Photo Journal of History and Daily Life in Shaoguan

The exploration of Wengyuan County, Shaoguan, began on the crisp morning of December 17, 2025. The day was launched with a comforting warmth from two bowls of wonton soup with vegetables, setting a pleasant tone for the journey.

Life in the community was immediately evident on the streets. The early rush was navigated by a woman with two traditional baskets balanced on a carrying pole. The air was filled with the savory promise of local cuisine, highlighted by strings of Cantonese cured meat and sausages hanging on a wall, a nod to the area's deep-rooted culinary heritage.

The Wengyuan County Longxian Central Agricultural Market, marked by an imposing main sign, stood as the commercial heart of the town. This bustling hub saw locals exchanging both goods and news. Nearby, a couple of elderly people observed the activity from the steps. Practical goods, from household items on the sidewalk to a pile of pickaxes, were displayed for the day's transactions.

As the market activity quieted, the broader county came into view. Daily life continued, with a man on a motorcycle crossing the street in front of "The 1st Primary School of Longxian Wengyuan County." The landscape juxtaposed history with modernity: a gate was guarded by a mythical beast statue, while a tall white telecommunications tower stood against the clear blue sky. Nature offered vibrant sights, including a close-up of a cypress tree branch with lush green leaves, and a solemn, tree-shaded area where a couple passed down steps, offering a moment of reflection.

Profound glimpses into the town's history and memory were also a key part of the trip. A large metal wall, dated "1949," proudly proclaimed "Wengyuan Liberation at 9/15/1949." The memory of past conflicts was preserved at the "Liberation of Xianlong Battle Exhibition Hall," located next to a leafy tree. The landscape was a testament to remembrance, featuring a monument to revolutionary martyrs, near which a leafless tree stood, culminating in a towering white monument with red Chinese characters proclaiming, "Monument to Revolutionary Martyrs."

The journey concluded by returning to the pulse of the present: a vibrant city street filled with people and cars, and the sight of the "People's Hospital of Wengyuan," a testament to a thriving community focused on its future.

Gears & Settings

Gears & Settings	Figures
Camera	Sony A6700
Lens	Sony E 30mm F3.5 Macro
Creative Style	VV2
Date	17 December 2025
Location	Wengyuan County, Shaoguan, Guangdong, China

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Photos

#: 1 | SS: 1/60s | ISO: 400 | F: 4.0 | +/-: -0.3 | FL35: 45mm | Caption: Two bowls of wonton soup with vegetables

#: 2 | SS: 1/640s | ISO: 100 | F: 4.0 | +/-: -0.3 | FL35: 45mm | Caption: A woman carrying two baskets with a carrying pole down a street

#: 3 | SS: 1/100s | ISO: 100 | F: 5.6 | +/-: -0.3 | FL35: 45mm | Caption: A bunch of cantonese cured meat and sausages hanging on a wall

#: 4 | SS: 1/1250s | ISO: 100 | F: 5.6 | +/-: -0.3 | FL35: 45mm | Caption: A building with a sign that says “Wengyuan County Longxian Central Agricultural Market” in Chinese

#: 5 | SS: 1/160s | ISO: 100 | F: 5.6 | +/-: -0.3 | FL35: 45mm | Caption: A couple of old people sitting on the steps

#: 6 | SS: 1/200s | ISO: 100 | F: 5.6 | +/-: -0.3 | FL35: 45mm | Caption: A pile of pickaxes on a table

#: 7 | SS: 1/400s | ISO: 100 | F: 5.6 | +/-: -0.3 | FL35: 45mm | Caption: A street with a lot of household items on the sidewalk

#: 8 | SS: 1/500s | ISO: 100 | F: 5.6 | +/-: -0.3 | FL35: 45mm | Caption: A man riding a motorcycle through a crosswalk in front of “The 1st Primary School of Longxian Wengyuan County”

#: 9 | SS: 1/1600s | ISO: 100 | F: 5.6 | +/-: -0.3 | FL35: 45mm | Caption: A statue of a mythical beast in front of a gate

#: 10 | SS: 1/1600s | ISO: 100 | F: 5.6 | +/-: -0.7 | FL35: 45mm | Caption: A tall white telecommunications tower

#: 11 | SS: 1/320s | ISO: 100 | F: 5.6 | +/-: -0.7 | FL35: 45mm | Caption: A close up of a cypress tree branch with green leaves

#: 12 | SS: 1/800s | ISO: 100 | F: 5.6 | +/-: -1.0 | FL35: 45mm | Caption: A couple walking down the steps in the shadow surrounding with lots of trees in a blue sky

#: 13 | SS: 1/400s | ISO: 100 | F: 5.6 | +/-: -2.0 | FL35: 45mm | Caption: A large metal wall with a number 1949 on it says “Wengyuan Liberation at 9/15/1949”

#: 14 | SS: 1/640s | ISO: 100 | F: 8.0 | +/-: -1.0 | FL35: 45mm | Caption: A tree with green leaves and a building says “Liberation of Xianlong Battle Exhibition Hall“

#: 15 | SS: 1/640s | ISO: 100 | F: 8.0 | +/-: -0.3 | FL35: 45mm | Caption: A tree with no green leaves

#: 16 | SS: 1/500s | ISO: 100 | F: 8.0 | +/-: -0.3 | FL35: 45mm | Caption: A monument to revolutionary martyrs at the end of the steps

#: 17 | SS: 1/1250s | ISO: 100 | F: 8.0 | +/-: -0.3 | FL35: 45mm | Caption: A tall white monument with red writing on it says “Monument to Revolutionary Martyrs” in Chinese

#: 18 | SS: 1/3200s | ISO: 100 | F: 5.6 | +/-: -0.3 | FL35: 45mm | Caption: A street with a lot of people and cars and a building of “People's Hospital of Wengyuan”